HELP!!! Balloon Molly fry not moving + weird shape

[TheNacho]

So I've have balloon molly fry born around a month ago. I have the mother, father unknown. We didn't know she was pregnant so we only managed to salvage 7 fry.

Currently they are in a 4g tank, with a few snails (to eat the leftover food) and an anubia plant. Water parameters as measured today-
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 5-10
Ph 6.8
I change about 20% of water every couple of days.

Today morning I noticed one of the fry lying on the substrate, barely moving except his mouth. When I tried to move him with my finger, he swam forwards a bit while spinning around himself?? Also he seemed to be in a weird shape that none of the fry had before- kind of longer than the rest and I couldn't see his fin. (pic attached)

This could've been happening since yesterday as I only counted 6 of them swimming but didn't have time to do a more thorough check (long, long day at work). Before that all fry seemed ok, some bigger than the others, but generally all were eating and swimming.

I did an emergency 33% water change, just to make sure its clean, and had to leave for work.

Doesn anyone know the reason? What can I do?

 

[feeshi]

Hey, sorry to hear about your troubles. I find for livebearers you need to be doing 50% water change every 2 days, more for other species of fish. I think another issue you may have is your PH is on the lower side, I also have this issue and had to stop keeping mollys.
To combat low PH you will need to add crushed coral over the course of the week to increase the KH (stability and combat any PH drop you can get with live plants) while also raising the PH. If you dont want to add coral to substrate you can buy some limestone rock, texas holey rock etc but these are a little less effective. You can also purchase products to raise PH but can get expensive.
Hope this helps and you dont lose any fry

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

The post above mine has great info but one thing I would add is that it might just a runt and might need to be culled. It’s sad but that’s just part of the breeding process

 

[Galactica555]

So I've have balloon molly fry born around a month ago. I have the mother, father unknown. We didn't know she was pregnant so we only managed to salvage 7 fry.

Currently they are in a 4g tank, with a few snails (to eat the leftover food) and an anubia plant. Water parameters as measured today-
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 5-10
Ph 6.8
I change about 20% of water every couple of days.

Today morning I noticed one of the fry lying on the substrate, barely moving except his mouth. When I tried to move him with my finger, he swam forwards a bit while spinning around himself?? Also he seemed to be in a weird shape that none of the fry had before- kind of longer than the rest and I couldn't see his fin. (pic attached)

This could've been happening since yesterday as I only counted 6 of them swimming but didn't have time to do a more thorough check (long, long day at work). Before that all fry seemed ok, some bigger than the others, but generally all were eating and swimming.

I did an emergency 33% water change, just to make sure its clean, and had to leave for work.

Doesn anyone know the reason? What can I do?

As someone who's breed a lot of guppys, it just...happens. even in fry exclusive grow out tanks..there's still some that are too weak and die from complications from birth,etc. I've had some die as old as 3months for no apparent reason. Runts exsist, some are weaker,even if it's not smaller than the rest. If you think it's more an issue all of them,they could have been early from stress(of the mother) or possibly they don't have enough/right lighting. Honestly,that's probably just a tiny/ complication. Situation right there,and not your fault not really save-able. As sad as it is ,that's just how it goes my friend

 

[TheNacho]

Unfortunately the fry died the rest look ok so hopefully they'll make it. It's so weird tho that it died after a whole month and not in the beginning, those 7 were the strongest of the bunch...